Water-cooled refrigerator.



F. A. GERCICH (SI1. J. VAUGHN.-

WATER COOLED REFRIGERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I, I9I5.

WITNESSES Patented Apr. 16, 1918*.

. INVENTOR.

` ATTORNEYS.

- TED sTArEs rArENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. GERCICH ANnJosEPHAJ. VAUGHN, OE OAKLANnCALIrORNIA, AssIGN- ORs To HAMMER-BRAY COMPANY, or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OE CALIFORNIA.

WATER-COOLED REERICERATOR.

Application filed February 1, 1915. Serial No. 5,382.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK A. GER- OICH and JOSEPH J. VAUGHN, citizens of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Cooled Refrigerators, of which the following is a specification. f

This invention relates to refrigerators and more particularly to the type wherein thev cooling is effected by the evaporation of water. The principal object of our invention is to provide an improved device of this character having certain novel and useful features as will be further set forth in the following specification.

One of the features of the invention is the construction of a frame work of such form that it may be made entirely of metal. This frame work being of an open character two advantages are secured, first, the frame may be constructed almost entirely of material which would Otherwise be waste, and second, the open construction admits a freer circulation of air and the transmission of heat from the interior to the evaporating water.

Another novel feature in our invention is the providing of a wat-er trough integral with the bottom of the cooler, facilitating shipping of the cooler, and providing an insect trap so that ants and other crawling insect-s will be prevented from entering the interior, and still Another feature of our device is the i1nproved method of fastening the fabric material on the exterior of the cooler whereby the same may be readily renewed.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the improved cooler showing the door open and the water container mounted on the top thereof.

Fig. 2 is a view in horizontal section through thc cooler.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through approximately one-half of the cooler.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on 4 4, Fig. 1.

Denoting corresponding parts by the same numerals of reference, our device consists of the bottom plate 1, formed with a trough 2 around the four sides thereof. Suitable feet 3 are bolted to this base in the corner and serve to raise the bottom a sufficient dis-r tance from the supporting surface. Attached to the outside of the base at each of the corners are four upwardly extended angles, ther front 'angles being denoted by t and the rear angles by 5. Angles 4 are provided along one edge with a ledge 6 serving. as a stop for the door 7 The top is formed:

of a single sheet of pyramidal shape having the edges bent downwardly to connect with the upper end of the angles i and 5, and the intermediate supporting strips 9 and 10.

- The object of providing a top of pyramidal shape is to provide inclined surfaces down which the water may flow when allowed to drip on'the apex thereof. The four sides and top are covered with burlap, or other suitable fabric, the sides and back being attached to the top by sewed seams and the cover thus provided is attached to the frame as shown in detail in Fig. 4. The fabric is first wrapped around the thin metallic strips 12, and these strips then attached to the frame work by means of bolts. In this manner the fabric may be securely and neatly held in place by a few fastening bolts and when it becomes rotted may be quickly renewed. We may find it desirable to attach on the outside of the frame work, but under the fabric, a metallic screen 13 as a support for the fabric and prevent the same from being accidentally torn by being punched inwardly.

The water to produce the cooling effect is contained in a vessel 15 supported on suitable legs 16 above the upper surface of the top 8. On the under side of this vessel is provided a cock or valve 17 by which the flow of water may be regulated and allowed l to drip from the apex of the top. yThe water runs down the slopes of this top and down the fabric forming the sides, front and back covers of the cooler.

It is desirable to place the cooler in a position where as much breeze as possible will blow over the device thus inducing rapid evaporation. The surface water fills the trough 2 thereby making the cooler insect proof.

It will thus be seen that we have provided a cheaper and simple device of the character mentioned, and while we have shown the preferred construction of our invention, the novelty of the invention will be set forth in the following claim fromrwhich it will be apparent that We do not restrict ourselves to the showing made on thedrawings but may adopt any Variation within the scope of the claim;

What we claim as new and wish to cover by Letters Patent is A cooler comprising a rectangularbase,

Aa trough formed integrally around the pe riphery of said base, upright angular niembers attached to said base at the four corners,.the two of said angular members po`l sitonedalong` the front of said base, formed with a ledge member along their edge which stioned on the front side of said frame, and being adapted when in closedposition to seat against the ledge formed along the edge of the opposite angle member, a wire fabric attached to the edges a said angle members at the sides and top, a cloth fabric enveloping said wire fabric, and a container,A comprising a tank provided with legsadapt ed to seat upon said pyramidal top, and a drip barrel secured to said tank and being vadapted to be positioned directly above theY aperti ofthe top.

' In testimony whereof we aiix our signa- I times in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK GERCIQH, JSEPH J. VAUGHN.

v Witnesses:

W. A. STOCK, R. M. GYARzo.

@unies og `this patent :may be obtained forve cents each. by addressing the Commssiner o Batentg.

. Washington, D. C. 

